Work continues on re-engineering operations at BBL. Our new computer system
with the client-server model, relational database(s) and expanded use of the
Internet should be completed sometime during the first half of next year. This
will mark an important transition from a largely paper based operation a few
years ago to a largely electronic operation. Most of the planned changes have
been communicated to you in previous MTABs and letters, but there are a couple
of important things we want to update you on:

Banding locations will be reported with greater precision (1' block
instead of 10' block) when our new system is ready next year. BBL will cease
verifying the coordinates of banding locations, and instead rely totally on
banders to provide correct coordinates at 1' precision. Please do not send us
1' minute locations just yet, but be prepared to when the call for them comes.
It has never been easier to determine accurate banding coordinates. USGS paper
topographical maps still work and remain inexpensive. Mapping software is
available at most any computer store at reasonable prices. Some marvelously
versatile GPS units can be purchased for $150 or less. And now there is an
excellent web site (http://topozone.com/find.asp)
where one can electronically access 60,000 topographical maps in three sizes and
four scales to plot locations and determine precise coordinates. Best of all,
that one is free.

The toll-free number for reporting bands was one of our earliest
developments. The public's response to the number (1-800-327-BAND) has been
excellent. Band reporting rates definitely have increased, and record numbers
(80,000 last year) of bands are being reported. The success of the 1-800
number has not been without costs, though. While banders, particularly
waterfowl banders, are benefiting from having more and better data, and a better
return from expensive field operations, BBL's operating costs have increased
substantially. This makes it all the more important to increase efficiencies
and reduce costs in other areas. Waterfowl banders can help us, and in turn
themselves, by sending banding schedules as soon as pre-hunting season banding
operations are over. Nothing disappoints band reporters and clogs up the system
at BBL so much as when band recoveries are reported before bandings.

BANDMANAGER software is the key to prompt, efficient submission of
banding records, whether one bands waterfowl or other birds. All banders should
be using BANDMANAGER, or planning to soon. Sometime next year we will very
likely cease accepting paper schedules and electronic schedules from the CGS and
BAND OPS programs. We are phasing out our data entry section, which for more
than 30 years keypunched data from paper schedules, and all our programming
investments will go toward improvements to BANDMANAGER rather than maintenance
of CGS and BAND OPS.

The release of BANDMANAGER has generally been well received since its July, 1999
release. About half of all banding data are now being submitted via
BANDMANAGER, and we have had lots of good suggestions for improvement. An
updated program can be downloaded from
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/resources/bandmgr/bandmgr.htm
or obtained by contacting our BANDMANAGER Help Desk (301-497-5845 or
bandmgr@usgs.gov). This fall, work will begin on the second version of
BANDMANAGER, which among other things, will accept the more precise location
coordinates and allow Internet file transfer of the electronic banding schedule.

If you still need help with BANDMANAGER do not hesitate to contact the Help
Desk. You might also try to attend a BANDMANAGER workshop. Several have been
held, usually in conjunction with meetings of regional banding associations.
Help will also be available at the AOU meeting in August (see item 4 below).
During these workshops, banders suggested that we complement the Band Manager
User Guide with Fact Sheets summarizing instructions for different features of
the program, along with pictures and examples. A first Fact Sheet on importing
data from sub-permittees into the master permittee's Band Manager files is now
available from our web site or Help Desk. Other fact sheets are planned.

If there was a down side to BANDMANGER, it was that the Macintosh version
released did not work well. After hearing of serious problems, we advised Mac
users not to use it if they had not yet tried, and we apologized to those who
did use it and experienced problems with their operating systems. We still do
not have a good fix on, or for, the problem(s) with the Mac version. We are
weighing options, and at this point are considering abandoning efforts to have a
Mac specific version. Between BBL and the Canadian Bird Banding Office, we
invested considerable staff time and $45,000 in contracts to develop the PC
version of BANDMANAGER. We need to develop the next generation PC version in
2001, and we are leaning toward putting the limited funds we'll have into it
instead of into a Mac version that would benefit relatively few banders. Our
thinking is influenced by the fact that PowerMac computers using the Virtual PC
software can run the PC version of BANDMANAGER.

Before we make final decisions about either the PC or Mac versions of
BANDMANAGER, we would like to hear more from banders about their capabilities
and experiences so far with the program. We have enclosed a questionnaire and
return envelope for your convenience in replying.

NABC and the Bander Training and Certification Program continue to evolve.
At this year's NABC annual meeting considerable attention was given to defining
standards, refining the certification process, and making training materials
available. Regarding the latter, the five NABC training manuals (The North
American Bander's Study Guide, The Instructor's Guide to Training Passerine Bird
Banders in North America, The North American Bander's Manual for Passerines and
Near Passerines, The North American. Bander's Manual for Hummingbirds, The North
American Bander's Manual for Raptors) are in their last stages of preparation
and should be available in electronic format by early fall. They will be posted
on the BBL and NABC web sites (http://www.nabanding.net/nabanding/) [new link 8/04]
as soon as they are available. Much of the content and style of the NABC
manuals follow the well done and popular The Canadian Bird Bander's Training
Manual, 1999, Canadian Wildlife Service Technical report Series no: 275, and the
The Canadian Bird Bander's Training Manual: The Instructor's Guide, 1999,
Canadian Wildlife Service, Technical Report Series no: 276.

The NABC manuals are long overdue, and as many NABC members have noted, the
lack of them understandably makes banders reluctant to endorse NABC standards
and the Bander Training and Certification Program. We at BBL and the Canadian
Bird Banding Office have been privileged to work with NABC in the development of
its program and products and can assure you that both will be good. We have
enough confidence in this development that, as mentioned in our May 19 letter
about Permit Policies and Procedures, our qualification standards for federal
bird banding permits will reflect the standards for NABC certification. This is
not something that current or aspiring banders should fear. Raising the bar for
banding standards a bit in North America will bolster the credibility of the
banding program, produce more skilled banders and better data, and lead to more
effective use of banding in the conservation of birds.

3. Band supply

We are not yet able to say that the band supply situation is good, but it is
certainly better than last year. With a third domestic company producing for
us, and $100,000 budgeted for bands this year, we have satisfied most needs for
larger sized waterfowl bands in 2000, and have cleared out most backorders for
the smaller sizes commonly used on nongame birds. We will order more bands as
soon as we have our FY 2001 budget, which will be allocated sometime after
October 1. Thank you for your patience with band supply problems. We will
continue to seek reliable suppliers and adequate funding for bands.

4. Recapture database

In our May 19th letter to all banders we discussed plans to develop a
banding recapture/resighting database. Through the Georgia Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit, we have contracted Dr. Paul Doherty, Jr. to lead this
development. The structure of the database and record formats are being
designed now, and we have begun acquiring and describing select datasets to be
included in the database. These early developments are very promising. Some of
the initial datasets appear to have significant scientific value relevant to
contemporary conservation issues. We are looking for more recapture datasets to
test and include in the database, particularly historic, long-term ones that may
be in danger of being lost when banders retire from banding. Additionally, we
are exploring the possibility of developing a prescribed recapture program
wherein banders would routinely submit recapture data along with their
BANDMANAGER banding schedules. If you record recaptures of birds you band and
might be willing to contribute them to the database, we would like to hear from
you. A questionnaire and return envelope are enclosed for your convenience.

5. Permit policies and procedures

Comments are coming in on the new permit policies and procedures announced
in our May 19, 2000 letter. As of this date, the number of banders commenting
is relatively small, but their comments are substantive. We welcome more
comments and will continue to accept them indefinitely. When it appears that
comments are slacking off, we will develop responses to the more common
concerns. The only thing we wish to address at this time concerns some apparent
misconceptions about the role of NABC in the development on these new policies
and procedures. NABC had no role in it. The only connection to NABC involves
BBL adopting NABC standards for bander qualifications, as discussed in Item 2
above.

6. Joint ornithological meeting

We hope to see you at the joint AOU, BOU, SCO meeting, August 14-19 at St.
John's, Newfoundland. Along with the Canadian Bird Banding Office and NABC, we
will have an information desk located in the vendors' area. Banders can stop by
to discuss banding matters, get updated information, and see demonstrations of
BANDMANAGER. Also, on Monday the 14th we are co-hosting two workshops, Banding
and Ringing in the 21st Century: Roles and Opportunities, and Mark-Recapture
Models: their Application in Bird-Banding Studies. The latter workshop will
provide a good introduction to the use of contemporary models and software to
analyze recapture and resighting data. For more information see
http://www.mun.ca/birds2000/res1 [bad link 8/04].